looking into an FJ purchase

[RD4SM4WD]

i found a deal on a 07 FJC, but the build date is 9/06. It has a manual Transmission and there are only 14,000 miles and has never left the road but will i have mechanical difficulties? i have heard that there is some problem with the gears in the rear differential on these early 07's but I have also noticed on this site that they may be limited to the early 07 automatic transmissions. I have driven nothing in my life but toyotas with the exception of a honda motorcycle to get to my first job. i have extreme confidence in toyota but this site has got me concerned on the abovementioned 07 FJC that i found which is fully loaded and practicaly brand new. I really want to get an FJC and this one is the only one i can afford, but if it is going to break down on me i will need to stick a beater Tacoma until i can afford a quality FJC. I am not a huge recreational four wheeler, but i do like to find my way out in the woods and winch firewood to areas that i can load a wood trailer. I regularly travel washboarded dirt roads, drive in the snow, hunt and fish so a good 4wd is important to me. i will be traveling on the highway quite a bit so the AWD that appears to be on all the manual transmissions concerns me too. Does anyone have any advice for me.

 

[BigyellowFJ]

I say if you like it, buy it ! Very few units had the gear issue and if this has 14k miles on it I would bet that it is a good one. Check the rear diff lube if you want. Not sure that would tell you if your gear set got hardened properly but with the miles it could have extra metal in the lube. Also, what is the warrenty on this FJ. Mine had an extended 5 year on it that tranferable. You can read the post in this forum about people who own them and overall folks love their FJ. I do !

 

[RD4SM4WD]

Did the ones with the gear hardening problems happen right away?

 

[BigyellowFJ]

I have no access to failure info but by forum input, it appeared to be an early issue that happened in the first year. But if someone never stress their equipment, there could be a few out there. All the ones I knew about, Toyota fixed under warrenty although some took the opportunity to install stronger stuff. I have a May 07 build and have had no issues and have pushed mine pretty hard at times. Only weak link I have found on mine is the clutch in sand with expedition weight and the kitchen sink on board

 

[1911]

According to forum input in the Blue Room, the overwhelming majority of blown rear ring & pinion gears are from automatic transmission-equipped early build dates.

Broken Rear Diff / Build Date Please - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum